Biography

Leoluca di Frisco is born in Corleone on 8 July 1896 and baptized on the twelfth. He is the son of Domenico di Frisco and Maria Carmela Badami. His godfather is Vincenzo Cammarata, who is unmarried.[1] Leoluca is named after his paternal grandfather.

Leoluca di Frisco, Bernarda di Frisco, and Lucia di Frisco, appear on the same passenger list headed “North German Lloyd, 1913 Oct-Dec.” They are named among those sailing from Naples.[2]

Leoluca appears in the NY State census for 1915 with his siblings. Bennie, age 25, heads the household. He (listed as male in this census but a match for Bessie) is a shirt maker. Lucia, 21, is an embroiderer. Lucca, 19, is a sleeve maker. They live in Block No. 3, ED 16.[3]

Luis di Frisco, born in Corleone on 8 July 1896, registers in the US for the draft for WWI. He lives at 207 E 102nd St in NYC. He has his own business at 2069 2nd Ave. His nearest relative is his sister Lucy di Frisco, also living in Manhattan at the same address.[4]

Luis Di Frisco, born 8 July 1896, residing at 156 E 103rd St, New York, is inducted as a private on 7 August 1918. Army serial number 3,598,467. His assignments: "Btry F 35 F A to Aug 20/18: Auxiliary Rem Depot #309 to disch." He does not serve overseas. Discharged 3 April 1919.[5]

In the 1920 federal census of New York, Manhattan, ED 1256, 18th Assembly District, Carmela Di Frisco, 54 and widowed, heads a household with her children Bessie, 29, Lucy, 25, Louis, 23, and James, 17. Carmela and James immigrated in 1919, and the other children in 1913. Louis was naturalized in 1918. The others are aliens. Bessie works as an operator in "Men's Skirts", Lucy as an operator in Dresses, Louis as an Expressman in Business. Carmela and James do not work. Their neighbors are all Yiddish speaking Russians.[6]

Leoluca marries Antonia Pennino on 21 September 1924 in the Bronx.[7] Antonina is the niece of Tommy Gagliano, boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York.

In 1940, Louis De Frisco, age 43 (b. 1897), heads a household with Antonina, 38 (b. 1902), his wife, and their children Camilla, 14 (b. 1926), Louisa, 12 (b. 1928), and Domenick, 6 (b. 1934). Louis and Antonina have completed five years of schooling. They were born in Italy and their children in New York City. They lived in the same house in 1935. They rent, for $50/mo. He is a baker who owns his own business.[9]

Louis appears to have moved between the 1940 census and his registration for WWII. The Enumeration District for his known address in 1942-3, 869 E 220th St, in the Bronx, is ED 3-713. A review of that ED does not find the Di Frisco family. Cascio-10 12:15, 30 March 2017 (EDT)

Louis' WWII draft card also gives the addresses of his businesses: a bakery on Hoffman St. in the Bronx, and Ritz Lathing, in Manhattan. His younger brother's contact info appears: James di Frisco, 314 Pleasant Ave, NYC.[10]

In 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Angelo di Carlo is among the thousands of Italian nationals who are arrested. He remains in internment for more than a year. His wife organizes letters from his business associates, in hopes of securing his release. Louis writes one of these letters. In it, he writes that he is an American citizen, and served in the US Army in WWI. He is a lathing contractor dba Rizt Lathing Co, 505 5th Ave NYC, and also owns a bakery in his own name at 2403 Hoffman St, in Bronx. He lives in the Bronx at 869 E 220th St. He's known Angelo for 15 years, both socially and through business dealings. Like all of the letter writers, Louis says that he would sponsor Angelo if released.[11]

Louis Difrisco, born 8 July 1896, dies in June 1972 at age 76. His last residence was in the Bronx.[12]

Antonina dies a widow at age 78 in Chicago, Illinois. Her address is listed as 5445 N California. The funeral home is listed as The Montclair Funeral Home and she is buried at Ferncliff Cemetery. The informant's name is N Walker.[13]

↑ Ancestry.com. New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013; New York State Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917–1919. Adjutant General's Office. Series B0808. New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

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